Cable clarifies QB situation

News, notes and quotes Wednesday as the Raiders prepare to face the Broncos in Denver:
— Here’s the way the question was phrased regarding the Raiders quarterback situation with Bruce Gradkowski, Jason Campbell and Kyle Boller:

Q: If Bruce could not go and Jason was healthy enough play, would he start over Kyle?

Cable: Yes.

That would seemingly put to rest speculation Boller would start if Gradkowski can’t play _regardless of how healthy Campbell is. Campbell is coming off an 8-for-21, 83-yard game with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

If it’s any consolation, his 10.7 quarterback rating would have been 36.4 had Jacoby Ford held on for a 10-yard gain on Campbell’s final pass instead of having it explode off Ford’s body as if it were a cement wall and into the hands of linebacker Takeo Spikes.

Here’s how Cable described what Gradkowski and Campbell did Wednesday:

“Bruce did some stuff, which was good, and some real easy stuff, in terms of throwing (but didn’t) cut it loose or throw the ball down the field or anything like that. Moved around fine. Jason is a little bit sore. You saw Kyle practicing. So we’ll just continue on that path and it may have to be a game tim decision.”

— Cable on running back Darren McFadden:

“There was a couple times when he did cut it loose and it was good. He felt good afterward. If we get out here tomorrow and no setback or anything like that, hopefully we’re through it.’’

Running back Michael Bennett also practiced and ran hard a couple of times, meaning it’s possible both running backs will be available to rejoin the active roster after missing the 49ers game.

— With Campbell and Gradkowski healthy enough to at least do some things on the field, Cable doesn’t believe it’s necessary to bring in another quarterback for the practice squad.

Punter Shane Lechler assumed that role Wednesday.

“There’s a set of plays he would run,’’ Cable said in reference to having to use Lechler in a game. “A `what if’ thing.’’

— When Quentin Groves recovers sufficiently from a hamstring pull, Cable said he would return to weak side linebacker and Trevor Scott would go back to the three-man rotation at end along with Matt Shaughnessy and Lamarr Houston.

— Mario Henderson will continue to alternate with Jared Veldheer at left tackle, Cable said, but it appears Veldheer may be getting closer to winning the job outright.

Henderson had some particularly bad snaps against the 49ers, getting manhandled by Justin Smith on a failed Bush third-and-goal run out of the shotgun.

— With Brandon Myers missing practice because of a concussion and possibly not being able to play, Cable said the Raiders are considering a number of options, including using an offensive lineman during power formations, using Marcel Reece there during no fullback sets and possibly elevating practice squad tight end Kevin Brock.

— Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha thinks the Broncos passing game may have been easier to defend when the focal point was Brandon Marshall (with apologies to former Raider DeAngelo Hall and his forgettable 2008 opener against Eddie Royal).

Quarterback Kyle Orton is on pace to pass for an NFL record 5,179 yards. Three wide receivers _ Jabar Gaffney (37-408), Brandon Lloyd (34-663) and Royal (32-367) have 30 catches or more.

The Raiders leading wide receiver, by contrast, is Louis Murphy, with 19 receptions for 308 yards.

“Now there is not a focus,’’ Asomugha said. “They have so many weapons that Kyle is throwing the ball to everybody. They spread it around much more than they did in the past.’’

— Denver coach Josh McDaniels insists the Broncos haven’t abandoned the run, even if it looks that way.

The Broncos are averaging 2.7 yards per carry, far and away the worst in the NFL, but are running the ball 25.2 times, a middle-of-the-pack figure.

McDaniels told Bay Area reporters by conference call the Broncos have simply been more effective throwing the ball so far and that a few times game circumstances took the run out of the game.

Denver rushed for 149 yards against the New York Jets, a team with one of the top rushing defenses in the league. They got 49 of those yards on runs from quarterbacks, Orton on scrambles and Tim Tebow on designed runs.

“We’re focused on getting better in that area of the game and not abandon it certainly at all,’’ McDaniels said. “Our goal will always be to maintain balance.’’

— Mike Mitchell, coming off his second solid game with an increasing role in the secondary and a bit of a youtube sensation in college some college knockout hits at Ohio, had mixed emotions about the NFL stepping up enforcement for helmet-to-helmet contact.

“They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do to keep it safe,’’ Mitchell said. “We’re not out here to hurt each other and get hurt. Obviously, there has to be rules to protect us.

“I think we’ve got to make sure we don’t take from other players’ aggressiveness, but I definitely agree that we have to have these steps taken to crack down a little bit and make it safer. I just hope that one day, we’re not playing flag football.’’

Cable on the rules crackdown: “Certainly we want to protect the players, but some of these plays are so bang-bang, I don’t know how you tell a player to do that. A lot of injuries happen when guys get pulled up at the last second. Someone gets rolled up on or a guy gets hit at a bad angle or something that you don’t teach fundamentally, so we’re kind of teetering on having telling them something negative here that may in fact hurt ‘even more.’’

Cable said he agrees with the present rule and wants helmet-to-helmet contact legislated, but noted, “In this game, with the caliber of athlete and the training they do, athletes get better and better with all the great training we have every year. To ask those guys, `OK, stop.’ It’s impossible.’’

— Raiders safeties have zero interceptions this season and have incurred the wrath of the fan base (and justifiably so) in some instances, but that opinion is not shared by Cable who said “collectively, that group is playing at a high level.’’

Cable noted the improved play of Mike Mitchell of late and was asked about the possibility of him competing for a job as a starter, displacing Michael Huff, or, more likely strong safety Tyvon Branch.

“No, I think we’re pretty set at those two spots. We’re pretty set there.’’

— Linebacker Travis Goethel was on the practice field for the first time since the third preseason game. He’s been out for reasons never disclosed but believed to be minor surgery on his lower back.

“He did some drills, did some conditioning, kind of followed his rehab format and really, just the first time getting him back out there,’’ Cable said. “So, hopefully he’ll feel good tomorrow (and) we can just continue to add to that. I wouldn’t expect him, in terms of playing, until next week at the earliest.”

— A few players had heard about Pittsburgh’s James Harrison’s threat to retire over what he believed to be excessive enforcement of helmet-to-helmet rules, although one player who knows him figures he’ll back down once he learns how much bonus money he’ll have to return from his recent contract.

— Interesting observation from former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon during the telecast of the Raiders-49ers game Sunday regarding Campbell.

“He was struggling a little bit,’’ Gannon said on the air with information gleaned during a production meeting with the quarterback. “ He’s really trying to memorize the formations this week. He felt if he could memorize all the formations, it would help him play quicker, particularly early against the 49ers.’’

One question _ after arriving the day after he was acquired by trade and being with the Raiders ever since, shouldn’t Campbell have the formations memorized by now?

–Wednesday is typically the heaviest media day for an NFL team during the week, but the Raiders took the minimalist approach. No prior notification of opposing team conference calls (had to call the Broncos to find that out), no quarterback or coordinator to the podium and very few players with major roles in the locker room during the open session.

— Other injury related issues: DT John Henderson (stress fracture) did not practice. SS Tyvon Branch was limited with a sore lower back. LB Thomas Howard (knee) did not practice.

Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer

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Yeah, but he finally found the right WR, after selecting 4 others in previous drafts.
****************
What was the name of the worst one of em all?
Hey, Pete Carroll has Mike Williams playing well at least.

***

Roy Williams is playing pretty well for Dallas, too.

Charles Rogers had a drug problem he couldn’t shake, I think…

SilverNBlackPA

Carl, Millen’s worst draft pick has to be Charles Rogers. No talent, mentally unstable, easily injured. He’s now broke, drug addicted and I think might even be homeless.

DutchRaider77

@The Real MaddenRaider Says:
The drug cartels have been monitoring the border along the Rio Grande. The make sure that they get a cut of the action of everyone that crosses over.

Mexico is not winning the war with the cartels. We invaded Afghnistan because they supported Al Queda. No, not advocating invasion of Mexico, but advocatin supporting the Mexican government. Guess where the Drug Cartels get their financing and weapons from? Did you hear the Mexican mayor who was gunned down with his whole political team and at the press briefing, the reporters in the room did not ask any questions? Why, because they are executing politicians, reporters and citizens who stand up to the cartels. [NPR had a very in depth story yesterday, probably can get it on Podcasst]

Educate yourself on the issue and the suffering of our neighbor and then reply!

MR,
Juan Williams made absolutely no eubonics comments. You made that up. What got him in trouble was this:
“The comments which led to the firing of Williams revolved around his admitting to Bill O’Reilly that he gets “nervous” and “worried” when he boards a plane and sees “people in Muslim garb.” That is what was said that the leftist NPR got upset wth. Being a liberal didn’t give Juan Williams any cover. I have no problem with firing him for stereotyping Muslims, but the other is your BS.

lefty12

Mike Silver doesn’t care for the Raiders or more specifically Davis and has some kind of grudge against the team-warrented or not.

Carl Weathers

Charles Rogers that’s the Jarussell of the bunch!

RaiderRockstar

Ok I think we got a better shot today. Boller will start this weekend. Chalk that baby up.

***

AIG, is this official?

or just your best guess?

I thought Caveman Cable said soemthing about a game-time decision …

RaiderRockstar

PA & CW agreed

Charles Rogers has to be pretty high on Detroit’s 1st round bust list …

fat kidd

juan williams was fired for being associated with foxx news which npr cant atand.

Mike Silver doesn’t care for the Raiders or more specifically Davis and has some kind of grudge against the team-warrented or not.
—————————–
Can you provide a link?

new englandraider

641

That’s right.. Welcome to the other side buddy. Glad to have you.

bcz24

BCZ,

was Mitch “the abused” on that play?

I know CJ37 was to blame for Crabs TD
**********
Nah, actually our entire defense bit when Smith ran right, Davis ran free to the left and boom TD. I was SCREAMING at my tv. Alex wasnt going to run why the fudge did our WHOLE defense bite on that bootleg. Turrrable.

new englandraider

644

I suggest you go back and look at the play.. he was covering the middle of the field in a ZONE

new englandraider

649

No he wasn’t.. the aforementioned poster hasn’t a knowledge of zone or man 2 man coverages…

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A full-time National Guardsman toting two unloaded M16 assault rifles was allowed onto the Michigan Stadium field before the Michigan-Michigan State football game.

Security officials allowed the man into the stadium, where more than 113,000 people had gathered, because his weapons were empty and no ammunition was found.

A member of the color guard reported the impostor, who was escorted out by police.

Brown said the unidentified man was compliant, and told officers he used his uniform as a ruse because he wanted to attend the Oct. 9 game but could not get a ticket.

Diane Brown, a spokeswoman for the university’s department of public safety, told WJBK-TV that school officials do not believe anything was done “incorrectly or improperly by police in any of the checkpoints.”

Anyone here with the history of NFL, can you tell me something about mike silver, yahoo sports columnist? He always seems to talk negative about the Raiders.
——————————-
Highly respected member of the Sports Journalism community.
—

I don’t know about Silver being a well respected journalist. He’s a joker kind of guy. He has a forum to spout his views but I’ve never heard him talked about in glowing terms myself. That being said,
everyone talks bad about Oakland cuz it’s well deserved.

People, we can’t just wish away the media talking negative in regard to the Raiders. When the scoreboard starts saying that the Raiders are winning games than it will stop. Until then, we have NOTHING to stand on to say anything contrary to the media criticism. The Raiders are LOSERS. What can we say to refute the idea we are a pathetic franchise? “We try hard…sometimes” is not enough, we have to actually WIN SOME FREAKIN’ GAMES and maybe, just maybe, get over .500 and we’ll get some respect.

It’s just the way it is.

RaiderRockstar

Dakota,

Cable (the guy who beats his wife and punches asst coaches) has a policy. no knuckleheads

please tell me what this team would look like with Vick, Burress & Owens right now …

bcz24

NE I was totally being sarcastic dude. I like Mitchell and think he should get more time. I went on to say that our entire D bit on Alex Smiths bootleg allowing Davis to run free to the end zone. I am not even certain Mitchell was on the field when that play occured. I have a very good understanding of man and zone coverages, unfortunately the players in our secondary apparently do not.

djohnnyg

666.bcz24 Says:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:57 pm
BCZ,

was Mitch “the abused” on that play?

I know CJ37 was to blame for Crabs TD
**********
Nah, actually our entire defense bit when Smith ran right, Davis ran free to the left and boom TD. I was SCREAMING at my tv. Alex wasnt going to run why the fudge did our WHOLE defense bite on that bootleg. Turrrable.

—

because our defense is a bunch of dim witted retards who are badly coached.

Silver, who lists pro football, pro basketball, tennis and college softball as his favorite sports to cover, has received numerous writing awards from several organizations, including the Pro Football Writers of America, the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Pro Basketball Writers of America.

notice how players heal quicker on teams that still have a playoff shot. I bet the raiders will have half the guys sitting out with a couple more losses………..

aig-raiders

What if Juan Williams said he doesnt like Christians and dont feel comfy sitting next to them on an airplane? I wonder if Conservatives would ask for him to be fired right away? Conservatives crack me up.

———————

exlaraiderseasonticketholder Says:
October 21st, 2010 at 12:47 pm
MR,
Juan Williams made absolutely no eubonics comments. You made that up. What got him in trouble was this:
“The comments which led to the firing of Williams revolved around his admitting to Bill O’Reilly that he gets “nervous” and “worried” when he boards a plane and sees “people in Muslim garb.” That is what was said that the leftist NPR got upset wth. Being a liberal didn’t give Juan Williams any cover. I have no problem with firing him for stereotyping Muslims, but the other is your BS.

DutchRaider, you’re the one who needs to educate yourself on the issue. You gave the perfect neo-con take on drug cartels. You obviously have learned nothing from the events of the past 10 years. Before watching any more Fox News, at least try to study up on the connection between our drug laws and the profits of drug dealers. See if you can use that brain and think of a solution, considering those resources, that doesn’t involve sending more kids to die.

Juan Williams is about the biggest non story I can think of today. They could bury it and it would have no effect on my life. NPR fired him for making a cruel statement about Muslims that he had no basis to make. Good for them.

DKnight007

Jesus…what is the deal and major malfunction with these Bay Area football teams??

The Niners and Raiders are freakin STUPID!

Goodell has been basically telling them, that if they get together and share a modern state of the art stadium like what has happened with the New York teams, then it will be easier on both their wallets in this tough economy. Plus I’m sure the NFL will help them with financing and the Bay Area would also be in the running for Super Bowls every 5-6 years!

The Yorks and old looney Al need to get their heads out of their collective asses!

Christians have done their fair share of killing over the years, but did Christians hijack planes and then fly them into the world trade towers in the name of Jezuz?

Would Rachael Maddow be kicked off her show if she said she was uncomfortable sending her kids to a Catholic Church? I doubt it.

RaiderRockstar

new post!

priesttj

Mike Silver is a spy for any team playing the Raiders, he used to get info from team officals and give it to the team they were playing. They found out kicked him off the campus in LA. He also spread rumors about Mr Davis using half truths and embellishing negative stuff. This was when they were winning so it had nothing to do with the record. Sorry KK.